Greg Errico

The veteran drummer discusses his wild ride with Sly & the Family Stone, plus sessions with the likes of Betty Davis.

As the original drummer for the legendary Sly & the Family Stone, Greg Errico provided the rhythmic bedrock that bridged “flower power” psychedelia and the nascent funk revolution. Eschewing flash for groove, Greg’s pulse on Family Stone essentials like “Sing a Simple Song,” “You Can Make It If You Try,” “Thank You (Fallettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)” and many others remain studies in steadfastness, virtues that gave his work new life decades later when the likes of Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg, LL Cool J, Public Enemy and countless others famously sampled his drum patterns. On this episode of Give the Drummer Some, Greg sits down with host J-Zone at the kit to demonstrate his most beloved tracks and discuss classic-era Sly, producing and playing with the elusive funkstress Betty Davis, gigging with jazz fusion pioneers Weather Report and how the drum is the “first language of humanity.”

Credits:

Produced by Jordan Rothlein, Jeff Mao and Ryan Woodhall
Edited and mixed by Ryan Woodhall
Recorded by Mark Bengtson